A Lurgan primary school has taken immediate action to ramp up its safety measures after receiving an anonymous threatening phone call.
St Teresa’s Primary School – based on the Tarry Lane – received the phone call on Friday, March 7.
In response, the school have been forced to increase the safety measures already in place and to introduce additional security in the interest of both pupils and staff.
In a letter addressed to parents, school Principal Mr Kearney explained: “We received a very concerning anonymous phone call to school on Friday 7th March. The school responded immediately contacting the PSNI, EA, CCMS and the CPSS for guidance and advice.
“As a result, the school is taking precautionary measures to strengthen the robust procedures we have already in place.
“For example, you will have noted our main school gates will be locked from 9am – 1.45pm each day for the foreseeable future, to ensure the utmost safety in our school.
“If you need access into the school at any time, please call the office 02838323425.
“An automated security system will be in place at the pedestrian gate in the near future. In the meantime please continue to use the carpark on Tarry Lane.
“If you see any suspicious activity at any time, please report this to the school or the PSNI immediately.”
Armagh I contacted PSNI for further information and a spokesperson advised: “Police were made aware of a threatening call made to a school in the Lurgan area on Friday, March 7.
“Officers have liaised with the school and the Education Authorities and the matter is being treated as a prank call.”
In light of this, Councillor Keith Haughian has issued a statement urging constituents to await information from PSNI and to not listen to online rumours.
Cllr Haughian said: “In light of recent developments concerning St. Teresa’s Primary School, we have received information from parents that the PSNI have contacted the school in relation to this.
“They are currently working on the theory that the purported “threats” were in fact the subject of a prank call made by someone under the age of 18, and that the PSNI have no information to suggest that there is any risk to staff or pupils at St. Teresa’s or any other school in the Upper Bann area.
“We would urge constituents to await information from either schools or the PSNI before arriving at any unfounded conclusions, some of which have been unhelpful, and appear to have been disseminated on social media by individuals who may have other agendas and which seek to undermine community relations and cause unnecessary panic.”
